Los Angeles and London

I got an opportunity to visit both these places in a short trip, and this being my first trip to both these places, here are my experiences.

First about LA (that's how people call Los Angeles), the second largest city in US, one of the biggest cities in the world with about 1302 Sq. kms, and being part of the State of California (that was ceded to US from Mexico in 1848).  LA is famous for arts, and it's no surprise that Hollywood is in LA!

I used the local transport extensively. Here they refer to both buses and trains as 'Metro', and like any big city, all are integrated, and you can use the same card (called as TAP card) for payment.Buses are merged with vestibule during weekdays.  Exit are primarily through rear side only except for handicapped. As you enter you tap the prepaid TAP card or pay the amount to the driver. If you want to get down, there is a cable to pull an electronic bell or alarm and the driver stops in the next stop. This is to inform the driver that you will be getting down in the next stop. Security Cameras are installed in buses. All buses are air-conditioned. 

You pay a standard fare of 1.75$ for a ride - that means irrespective of where you get down you pay the same amount. There are daily, monthly passes and also senior citizen passes. For physically challenged and for people in wheelchair, the driver will convert the stairs to a ramp and this is there in all buses. There is a GPS based announcement system inside the bus that announces the next stop name. If you are using a bicycle you can load it in front of the bus (outside of the bus) and then board the bus. Petrol is called as gas and measured and priced in gallons. Gas stations operate on self serving mode - you have to swipe your credit card and fill it yourselves and receipt will be generated.

I managed to visit Griffith Observatory, and Natural History Museum, truly remarkable places. I should stay I was really excited to see a place like Griffith Observatory. Though entry is absolutely free, I bought a ticket for the Planetarium show for 7 US Dollars, and definitely worth every bit of it. I went around the observatory clicking pictures, and also went saw the telescope that was seen by Griffith, and was shown a star - Neveda, and then watched the Foucault pendulum experiment trying to prove that the earth is rotating, and that only few places in this earth can be used to conduct such an experiment. There is also a small souvenir shop in this place. 

Natural History Museum was located opposite to University of Southern California. An entry fee of 12$ is charged, but definitely worth it. Lot of mammal replicas were displayed in a very neat and stunningly look-real setup. Skeleton structures of Dinosaurs and history of man were also on display. Bird replicas really reflect a sanctuary setup. More importantly, they also have paleontologists working on real fossils and their work is also displayed for visitors to see. This will serve as a huge inspiration for the young students. Another astonishing section was the minerals sections, that had almost all treasure stones of the world, including Ruby, Blue moon diamond etc.. for display in a vault guarded by security staff. If you have lots of time, its really worth spending here.  There is a store, where you can buy few items. 

I was lucky to discover Paru's Restaurant, for South Indian Veg Food, that was just 1.5 kms from the place I stayed. Learnt that it was started in 1979 by a person from Tamil nadu, India and though it looks like a house from outside, it was appealing inside. I found many foreigners frequenting it, in the few days I visited it. I used to have their "Queen Paru" - a combo of One Idly, One Ghee Dosa and One Poori for 16 US dollars (after tax). Poori and Idly was Ok, though Dosa did not meet my expectations. 

From L to R: Beverly Hills, South Indian Veg Restaurant, Griffith Observatory, Dino Lab at National History Museum 

Next is London. Just got few hours to spend here, before I had to take the return flight, and a good old friend of mine helped me in this trip.  Here local underground rail transport is called 'Tube', and the charge is 8 Pounds per day. Saw the famous Thames river and we walked and took the tube to reach Westminister (British Parliament), and then saw places around there, including the famous London bridge. 

We had a meal deal pack (Sandwich, Juice, and Chips) from Tesco (the well know grocery store)  and there was lot of crowd doing the same, and doing it with a sense of urgency. We then went to London eye - a giant wheel, and saw a 4D picture about London, and then walked to Trafalgar Square, and took photos at the world famous National Museum. Then walked to Buckingham palace, and then took photos.  London was pleasant at that time, and preserves its old heritage and style, despite the modern developments. 

Both LA and London are modern cities, and have a great history dating back to several centuries. LA and London both are cosmopolitan and have people from several countries who have made it as their homeland today. While LA is fully modern in its buildings and infrastructure,  London strikes a balance between the grandeur of past and its modernity. 

London

P.S: 

I also managed a very short trip to San Francisco, thanks to a good old friend, and saw the Golden Gate - the world famous suspension bridge.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the public infrastructure facilities, in the bay areas, like the library in Pleasanton that was free to all members (living in that area), the parks etc... Also visited the famous Shiva-Vishnu temple in Livermore.